Fancypants Gets the Exclusive Kind of Cancer

I'm one of the few. I can't get any old cancer. And I can't get the more common ductal carcinoma that grows in the milk ducts as 86% of all breast cancer does.

Going for the more exclusive kind of thing that only 12% - the surgeon says 8% which makes it even more exclusive - have, I opted for infiltrating lobular carcinoma which gets it start in those cute little milk making lobules that I apparently have lots of if judging by my capacity to generate breast milk back in the day. 

So that's where these weirded out cells that for some reason mutated as they grew started replicating themselves

And what I'm learning is that running out of room for their fun in a little lobule these bad boy cells then firmed up and worked their way into the tissue around the lobules, making the move from a nice little carcinoma in situ (in situ = stays put and doesn't make bad with the neighborhood) to invasive or infiltrating carcinoma.

The tricky thing with Invasive Lobular cancer is that it forms in long pushy chains of cells that reach out like tentacles and weave in and around other cells but this does not cause immediate lumps.

So instead of getting the typical cancer lump you get a thickened area. It gets even trickier though because this only happens after there are enough cancer cells to make a big difference.

Eventually - as in my case - what you feel is more thickening, a kind of general texture change in the part of your breast that has been invaded with the cancer cells.

Great. So I've been invaded. And worse, I don't know what to tell you about thickening other than don't think it's nothing like I did until it got so thick it was indeed like a kind of big firm area that was as close to a lump as I found.

And the reason I cant give you much guidance is that even my diagnostic Radiologist said that when he was looking for a problem it still wasn't evident on the mammogram. It took the ultrasound scan to have it show up.

And by that time it was not a small cluster of cells. We knew the minute it showed up on the screen what it was. It was a big dark mass and did not look happy.

I've got tiny but long strands of sturdy fishing line in my chest capturing the good cells and having a field day.

It's not an easy picture to see.

It's not an easy problem to solve.

It's not an easy path through this forest.

But if you show up you get to learn about it along with me.

I can use some company along the way.

Comments

[AnnOhio]

I'm proud to count you a member of my circle of friends..I'm along for the ride, the long haul not just the short version.

:o)

[Queen of Spain]

First, might I congratulate you on being such an overachiever? And not just making that great milk back in the day, but really digging into this education with gusto!

Not only can I not WAIT to learn more, I'm looking up stuff myself. We're all going to be experts come time to celebrate your defeat of this nasty invader.

[Tojosan]

Susan, I'm so proud of you and your approach. Harnessing your energies in this way can have nothing but positive results. Bringing us along for the ride will help us to better stand along side you during this time.

Though I've only come to know you recently, I'm already an admirer and now I'd like to be a friend to you during this struggle. And as QoS said, I want to learn too right along side you.

Hugs.
Todd

[Aliza aka Cybergrrl Oh]

Susan - I'm with you and with all those who are following you every step of the way. We're on this ride for the long haul. You ain't getting rid of us, that's for sure.

Let us know what you need and when you need it, and we'll be there for you if we can't manage anything else. Like zapping the invasion. If only we could just hit the delete button in RL when we need to.

I'm here. I'm on board. And I count myself lucky to count you as a friend.

[Michael Bailey]

Susan,

If I could trade my ability to speak for the rest of my life, to simply utter the words it would take to make this go away for you - know that I would gladly do just that.

Your positive attitude and quest for knowledge will no doubt help to maintain your strength though the tough times ahead.

Never think twice about asking me for anything - I'm here for you.

[Mike Gunderloy]

Count me in the support network. What good would a social network be if it fell apart when something tough happened?

[Darla]

Hey, there you...
It is so good to hear what is going on and know that things are progressing in a good fashion for such a bad thing.
Love to you,
Darla